When the University of Detroit Mercy softball program secured the services of Delhi's Courtney Gilbert, coach John Conway went so far as to call the shortstop a 'godsend'.

Her first season with the Titans backed up that claim.

The DDSS grad led UDM – an NCAA Division I program – in batting average (.368), hits (57), runs batted in (34) and slugging percentage (.548) in 51 games played. Those numbers made Gilbert a Horizon League First Team all-star.

“I think with having the support of my teammates, my family and everybody behind me this year I really felt like it was a complete season,” said Gilbert, who recently returned home to Delhi for the summer. “And to be able to be named to the first team was a complete honour.”

For a squad that dropped 17 of its first 19 contests, the Titans came on in a big way late in the campaign. Coach John Conway's team finished 18-34 overall, the peak coming with wins in three of their first four Horizon League Championship games in Chicago earlier this month. The Titans wound up third in the tournament after being ranked eighth going in.

“I think we definitely took a big step in the right direction in terms of the goals for our team,” Gilbert began. “Our goal is to win a (Horizon League) championship and make it to the NCAA tournament and being predicted to come in eighth at the beginning of the season fueled our fire a little bit. We were like, 'there's no way that's going to happen'.”

“We definitely played as a team and our hard work paid off.”

Like she had all season long, Gilbert was an offensive catalyst during the tournament registering five hits in five games, including a 2-for-2 performance (one double, one triple) and a walk vs. No. 3 ranked Valparaiso University in a win-or-go-home showdown.

“She was a clutch hitter for us,” said Conway. “Really, I was counting on her more for her defence than anything, (but) she did a great job offensively for us.”

“I'm thrilled that we have her for two more years.”

Gilbert played her freshman NCAA season with the University at Buffalo Bulls but opted to transfer last summer. That move, said Gilbert, made all the difference both on the diamond and away from it as well.

“We literally became a family,” she said of the Titans roster. “I know a lot of people say your teammates are your family but this year you really felt it. Everybody got along (and) the coaches believed in you 100 percent.”

Gilbert will take just one week off from training before getting back to work. A member of Canada’s National Junior Team in 2015, Gilbert will be one of 29 athletes taking part in the 2017 Women’s National Softball Team Selection Camp in Mississauga next month.

In preparation for the experience, Gilbert will work alongside fellow hopeful Logan White of Brantford.